A 30-second commercial – which shows Clinton smiling, shaking hands and listening to supporters – will run for a week. But the first lady won’t be using a penny of her own campaign money for it.

The $100,000-plus “soft money” bill is being picked up by the state and national Democratic parties.

Federal election law prohibits political parties from spending their own money on ads for specific candidates without it being charged to the candidate’s campaign. The law allows such commercials only to drum up support for the party or to advocate issues, and Democrats insisted this ad is within the law.

Dan Allen, spokesman for the state Republican Party, said the GOP will lodge a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission, charging the ad violates campaign finance laws by promoting Clinton.

“We want this nipped in the bud,” Allen said, likening the practice to that used by President Clinton in his 1996 re-election campaign. “It’s totally unethical.”

The commercial focuses heavily on Mrs. Clinton, the Democrats’ expected Senate candidate, and includes scenes from her “listening tour.”

She appears in seven different shots, and viewers are urged to “call Hillary,” although the phone number listed is that of the state Democratic Party’s Albany office.

The pro-Hillary ad was crafted by Chicago-based media guru David Axelrod, who is at the top of the list of consultants being considered by Mrs. Clinton for her Senate campaign.

“We’re not saying she’s running for the United States Senate,” said state Democratic boss Judith Hope, who unveiled the ad at an Albany news conference. “We’re talking about issues.

“I think she is one of the leaders of the Democratic Party, and one of the most articulate spokespersons for the party. It helps her, it helps us.”

Officials said Mrs. Clinton and her campaign staff were consulted about the commercial ahead of time, but she did not pre-screen it.

Giuliani, the likely GOP candidate, began running an ad upstate last week – more than a year before the election – that highlights his accomplishments in the city. His campaign is paying for it.